1. e4 e5 worked for me last time (incidentally C. Adams, my opponent in a previous game was on board 4 for Wolverhampton in this match, with similar result) 2. Nf3 All routine so far. Don't break a winning pattern, so.. 2... Nc6 3. Bc4 Great! A chance to try out my new trap! 3... Nd4 4. Nxd4 Damn! If he'd taken the pawn, I'd have played Qg5 which should lead to at least winning a piece and possibly smothered mate if I remember it properly. Perhaps he knows it? 4... exd4 5. d3 Hmm. I may end up losing that pawn, but its ok at the moment. A bit of a thorn in his side. I can play the same move as the last game, but this time it isn't a blunder. 5... Bb4+ 6. Bd2 I don't want to retreat again, so.. 6... Bxd2+ 7. Nxd2 Better develop something. I don't have to worry about blocking the KB in, so 7... d6 8. h3 I always think that's pretty feeble, plus I might be able to sac my bishop for it if he castles that side. 8... Nf6 Hooray, I've got a piece developed, and its only move 9! 9. a3 O-O 10. b4 I thought he'd do that. I can stop it coming any further. 10... a6 11. Ba2 He didn't fancy my b5 I suppose. Do it anyway, to stop the Knight coming in. 11... b5 12. Nb3 Uh-oh, he's hitting my pawn. How do I protect it? Pawn on, pawns exchange, he picks up my c-pawn, but then Qd6 should win the pawn back. 12... c5 13. bxc5 dxc5 14. Nxc5 Qd6 15. Nb3 I hadn't seen that. I can't take the a-pawn becasue he picks up my d-pawn, and he's a pawn up. No wait - Qa3, Nd4 Qc3 wins the knight. 15... Qxa3 16. Nxd4 Qc3+ He can't block with the Queen, because I get his rook and bishop. Can't take the queen, can't block with anything else. I should win now! 17. Ke2 Qxd4 18. Re1 I'm spoilt for choice. I could try Re8, then Bf5, but he'll probably go Kf1 next, and the pin doesn't work any more. What else? Wait a minute - Ng4! If he doesn't take it, I go Qxf2 mate. If he does take it I go Bxg4 pinning the king to the queen. Or is it a skewer? Either way, he's dead! 18... Ng4 19. hxg4 Bxg4+ 20. f3 Oh cr*p! Why didn't I see that? It's only 2 moves deep, for heaven's sake. Look confident. Pretend I meant it. Can I sac anything? No. I blame it on Mr Adams, who was causing a commotion on board 4 next to me. 20... Bh5 21. Qd2 I think the queen's coming to e3. 21... Rac8 This should stop the queen moving, because I win a pawn. I still think I'm better. 22. Bd5 He's threatening Bb7, but it's ok because I can play Rc7, then if he takes the a-pawn with the bishop I can double rooks on the a-file and win the bishop. If he takes with the rook, I get his bishop. Therefore ignore the threat and get another piece out. 22... Rfe8 My plan is Qxd5, winning the piece back again. He can't retake because of the pin. 23. Kf1 Damn, he saw it. Oh well if I try enough of those, he might miss one. 23... Qb6 Trying to save my pawns. 24. Reb1 He's going to play c4. I can't risk the pin. 24... Qd6 I thought about Qf6, then sac the bishop on f3, but it doesn't lead to anything because he can block with his queen. This threatens Qh2-h1, and then pick up the g-pawn or get a perpetual. 25. g4 Bg6 26. Bb7 Rb8 27. Rxa6 Qg3 A last desperate attempt to counterattack before his pawns and rooks kill me. 28. Rxb5 Qxf3+ 29. Qf2 Qd1+ 30. Kg2 Qxg4+ At this point I offered a draw, in the belief that I had a perpetual. He accepted, but said he would have played Kh2 which stops the perpetual. I thought I was lucky to get the draw because his pawns and bishop were better than mine, though my king was safer. Anyway, it meant we at least drew the match. 1/2-1/2